Berry-box.



narran srnrns PATENT FFlCE BERRY-BOX.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Application led March 27, 1905. Serial No. 252,319.

Patented Nov.v 7, 1905 Ton/ZZ whom, t may.; concern,.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. MINER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Traverse City, in the county of Grand Traverse and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Berry-Box, of which the following is a specification.

rl`his invention relates to berry-boxes.

The object of the invention is to provide a berry-box which shall be simple of construction, thoroughly efficient and durable in use, which may be manufactured with the least possible waste of stock, and in which the parts, when combined or set up, shall mutually brace each other, thereby to prevent collapsing or yielding under ordinary use.

.l/Vith the above and other objects in view, as will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction and combination of parts of a berry-box, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification', and in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a berry-box constructed in accordance with the present invention, one of the sides being shown disconnected from an end. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the box, showing all the parts disconnected. Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view of one corner of the box. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a slightly-modied form of blank used in making the box.

The box shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 is constructed of a single piece of suitable material, such as pasteboard, veneer, or Vany other stock adapted for the purpose, and by preference will have that surface which will form the interior of the box treated with waterproof material, such as paraffin or the like. The blank before the box is assembled is T- shaped and embodies a bottom 1, sides 2 and 3, having looking-flaps 4, and ends 5 and 6. The sides 2 and 3, locking-flaps 4, and end 5 form the head of the T, while the bottom 1 and end 6 form the stem, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. The cross is provided with creases 7, 8, 9, and 1() to permit the sides and ends to be folded to proper form, While the bottom is provided with creases 11, 12, 13, and 14 to permit it to be inset from the lower edges of the sides by beads 15, the crease 14 also permitting the end 6 to be folded at right angles to thel bottom. By the provision of the beadsl the bottom is prevented from coming into contact with the berries or other fruit in the box below it when a series of lled boxes are packed in a crate, and in order to secure proper ventilation for the box when filled there are openings 16 provided in the sides 2 and 8, the lower walls of which are substantially in alinement with the upper side of the bottom, the lips 17, formed by the openings, serving as additional braces for the bottom to prevent sagging. As herein shown, there are but two of these ventilating-openings, one in each side but, as will be obvious, this number may be increased if found necessary or desirable and still be Within the scope of the invention. The end 6 is provided near its outer extremity on opposite sides with two angle or L shaped locking-slots 1 8, which are designed to interlock with similarly-shaped slots 19, formed in the flaps 4, the slots 19 being removed at a greater distance from the upper edge of the flaps than the slots 18 are from the upper edge of the end 6, and by this arrangement when the series of slots are interlocked the upper edges of all of the parts will occupy the same plane.

When the box is set up for use, the lower edges of the flaps 4 fit in between the bead and the inner wall ofthe end 6, as'clearly shown in Fig. 3, thereby bracing the bead and at the same time holding theflaps against any tendency to become disconnected from the end 6 when the boxes are handled or are being filled with fruit.

As stated, the blank is made of one piece of material and may be cut at one operation to the appropriate shape. Of course when made-of one piece of material there will be some waste from the pieces that are removed to lform the bottom and end 6. To obviate this waste, the blank may be made of tWo pieces, as shown in Fig. 4, wherein the bottom 20 and end 21 corresponding to the end 6 is made of one piece of material and the end 22, sides 28 and 24, and flap 25 are made of another piece of material and are connected by providing the bottom 2O with a flap 26, which may be pasted, riveted, or otherwise secured to the end 22. With this latter form of box there will be no waste of material, and the scraps resulting from the manufacture of the box shown in Fig. 1 may be utilized for IDO VIS

this purpose. Aside from this diiierence both of the boxes are the same in construction and manner of operation.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed isl. As a new article of manufacture, a blank for Jfruit-boxes T-shapedin form and having the terminals of its head and the terminal of its stem provided with open-ended L-shaped locking-slots that project in the same direction.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a blank for fruit-boxes consisting of a single piece of material T form in shape and comprising sides 2 and 3, locking-flaps 4 provided with open-ended L-shaped locking-slots, an end 5, a bottom l provided with beads 15, and an end 6 provided with open-ended L-shaped looking-slots.

3. A fruit-box consisting of abottom, sides 2o provided with aps and ends, the bottom being folded to form beads in conjunction with the ends, and the flaps being rovided with open-ended L-shaped locking-s ots extending in the same direction, the lower edges of the z 5 ilaps being disposed within the beads.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM C. MINER.

Witnesses:

FRED T. BoUGHLY, M. E. I-IAsxELL. 

